Amalgamator.



No. 707,597. Patented Aug. 26, |902.

` E.. J. Klas.

AMALGAMATOR.

(Application filed flug. 12, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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` rre STATES `PATENT FFICE.

ERNEST J. KISS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 707,597, dated August26, 1902. Application iled August l2, 1901. Serial No. 71,723. (Nomodel.)

To all wtont it' may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST J. KISS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort lVayne, in the county of Allen, in the State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAmalgamators; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specifica` tion. y

My invention relates to improvements in amalgamators which are employedin the extraction of the precious metals from their ores.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide a cheap andefcient selfcleaning amalgamator andY concentrator in which all partsare conveniently accessible, having a positive downfeed andan easydrainage and Inode of operation so constructed that all theamalgamating-surfacesare below the water-line and are constantlyutilized in use and so arranged that while but a small surface forcontaining the mercury'is required the machine by its own movementscontinually distributes the mercury over a relatively largeamalgamating-su1face,wl1ereby but a small amount of mercuryis requiredto silver a relatively large area.

My improvement consists of a rotatable amalgamating-tank having aconcave bottom and pivotally mounted in an inclined position, wherebythe lowest portion of said bottom is at all times when in use in anapproxi-A mately horizontal plane, improved means for draining the saidtank, means for catching the overflow, and means for agitating theorepulp in said tank and for giving it a positive downfeed.

The principal novel feature of myinvention resides in the arrangement ofthe amalgamat# ing-tank whereby 'a radius-body of mercury successivelycoats the entire tank-bottom, the means for draining the same, and themeans for agitating and feeding downward its contents.

In the accompanying drawings similar reference-numerals indicate likeparts throughout the Several views, in whichoperative parts.

'amalgamating-tank.

suitable manner.

catch the overflow in use.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of myimprovement, showing the relativearrangement of the Fig.`2 is a view in elevation of my invention, takenat right angles to Fig. 1 and looking from the left, showing the meansfor actuating the feeding and agitating devices. Fig. 3 is an enlarged4detail view showing a modified form of bottom for the Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail View, in vertical central section, of the means fordraining the tank. Fig. 5'is a bottom plan of the means for closing thesaid drainageopening.

The agitator-tank 1 of any proper contour and dimensions and preferablycylindrical and of cast metal is preferably cast in two parts-theconcave bottom 2 and the cylindricai sides 3. These parts are thenrigidly united at their adjacent and respective lateral anges 5 and 6 byproper bolts or other The sides 3 at their upper edges-have an integralannular trough 7 to A second or auxiliary annular drip-trou gh Sissupported just both the drip and the discharge therefrom.

` This trough 8 has a discharge-spout Sand may be supported in positionin any suitable manner, as by the braces 10. The bottom 2 of the saidtank is inclined, as shown, to the center and has a centraldischargeopening arranged as follows: At a central point in the bottom 2is arranged an outlet-opening in register with the opening 11 of theconical casting 12, which is rigidly fixed to the lower face of thebottom 2 about the said central opening. This hollow casting 12 has alateral outlet-opening 13, Fig. 4c, iu register with the lateralopeningllt in the sleeve 15, which is pivotallysecured to the lower endof said casting 12 by a proper screw 16 or other proper manner. Thelower -end of the said sleeve 15 is preferably recessed, as shown, andprovided with a series of peripheral notches 17. On the lower end of thesleeve 15 is loosely mounted an outer sleeve 18, open at its upper endandhaving its lower end provided with integral spiderarms 19 and centralpendent apertured ears 20, in parallel arrangement, between which theforward end of the operating-lever 21 is pivotally secured by means ofthe pin 22. This hand-lever 21 is fulcrumed on the dis- Vbelow thetrough 7 and is adapted to receive IOO charge-spout 23, leading from thesaid central discharge-opening, or other proper manner.

On the inner face and lower end of the said sleeve 18 are arranged apairof diametric and upright peripheral lugs 24, adapted for a lockedengagement with the said notches 17 iently increase theamalgamating-surface,

and such pulp and concentrates as find their way beneath the falsebottoml 30 will be carried or dragged through the mercury-bath. Myimproved tank thus constructed is rotatably mounted in such an inclinedposition that some portion of the bottom 2 will be in a Ahorizontalposition at all times in use, whereby the bed of mercury 26 willsuccessively coat every part of the inner face of said bottom at eachrevolution of the tank and yet will remain in the lowest or horizontalportion of said bottom. Y

The tank 1 is mounted on antifriction ballbearings 27, which balls areloosely mounted on the inner concave face of the annular casting 28,which in conjunction with the coperating adjacent iiange 5 of the saidbottom 2 forms a ball race or cage. This annular casting 28 is rigidlyfixed upon any proper inclined supporting-standard 29, which in turn isrigidly fixed on a hinged or pivoted supporting base or platform 55,which is normally in a horizontal position, but whose outer edge can bevertically adjusted by means of the hand-screw 56. By means of thishand-screw the operator can still further tilt the said tank when it isdesired to collect the mercury at the outer edge of the tank for thepurpose of draining o the concentrates through the valved centralopening therein. In proper transverse relation to the said tank iserected the upright standard 31, having a vertical opening midway of itsends,in which is loosely mounted the upper end of the shaft 32, carryinga fixed bevel gear-wheel 33. To the lower face of the said standard 3lis rigidly fixed the pendent journal-bearing 34, adjacent to whose lowerend and on the said shaft 32 is arranged a fixed collar 35, providedwith an antifriction ball-bearing, as shown in Fig. 1.

On the lower end of-the shaft 32 is rigidly fixed an agitator 36 of anyproper construction, preferably having a spiral blade, as shown in Fig.1, though the blade may, if desired, be constructed in the form of acomlnon propeller wheel. (Not shown.) The lower end of the said agitatorhangs free and preferably just clears the bed of mercury 26 in itsrotation. The function of this agitator is to give the ore-pulp apositive downward feed to and through the mercury-bath 26.

On the upper face of one end of the standard 31 are detachably mountedthe journalbearings 36 and 37, in which is rotatably mounted thehorizontal shaft 38, carrying upon its inner end a bevel gear-wheel 39in `mesh with the said wheel 33 and carrying upon its outer end a rigidsprocket-wheel 40, on which is mounted a vertically-arrangedsprocket-chain 4l. In suitable journal-bearings 42 and 43 is rotatablymounted the driving-shaft 44, carrying near its outer end a fixedsprocket-wheel 45, with which the said chain 41 forms an actuatingengagement. On the outer end of this driving-shaft is Xed a properdriving-pulley 54, which can be connected to any suitable source ofpower. On the opposite end of the said standard 31 is removably butfirmly mounted the feedinghopper 46, having an integral pendent spout47, adaptedto snugly t within a proper vertical opening in thechannel-bar standard 3l, Fig. 2, and thereby irmly secure the saidhopper in position, and also adapted to discharge the contents of thehopper into the tank 1. This hopper 46 is provided upon two of itsopposite faces with the respective apertured lugs 48 and 49, in whichthe corresponding ends of the conveyer-shaft 50 are rotatably mounted.On this shaft is fixed the spiral conveyer 5l, adapted to feed thecontents of the hopper uniformly forward to the discharge-spout 47. Onthe inner end of ythis conveyer-shaft is fixed a bevel gearwheel 52 inmesh with the said gear 33.

The mode of operation and manner of employing my invention thusdescribed is obvious and, briefly stated, is as follows: When theore-pulp is placed in the hopper 46, it will be continuously anduniformly fed forward to the spout 47 by means of the said conveyer 51.On' account of the inclined bottom of the tank the ore thus fed theretowill by gravity seek the lowest portion of the bottom containing thebody of mercury 26, where it will be thoroughly mixed with the mercuryand with the Water 53 by means of the rotary agitator 36. rlhe slowrotation of the tank 1,v which can be effected in any proper orwell-understood manner, also materially aids in the circulation andthorough mixing of the ore. It is obvious that when the spiral-bladedagitator is rotated in the proper direction it will continuously forcethe ore and all oating particles down to an immersion in the mercury 26.It is also obvious that as the waterline is maintained to the highestlimit, as shown in Fig. l, the ore-pulp is thoroughly agitated, washed,and mercury-coated and the tailings will be continuously discharged overthe upper edge of the slowly-revolving tank into the said trough 7 andthence through the trough 9 to a proper receiving-receptacle.

When it is desired to discharge the mercury 26, it can readily be donewithout stop- IOO IOS

IIO

ping the rotation of the tank, as follows: The opening 13 being normallyclosed by the rotatable sleeve 15 and the outer vertically-adjustablesleeve 18, the operator first rotates the said sleeve 15 by means of thelever 21 until the said opening 13 is in register with theoutlet-opening 14C and then lowers the outer sleeve 18 by the same meanssufficiently to uncover said openings. This outer sleeve 1b may beomitted, if desired, in which case the forward end of the lever 21 willdirectly engage the said inner sleeve 15.

Vlien itis desired to drain the concentrates from the tank, it can bedone without either removing the mercury or stopping the rotation of thetank by so tilting the tank forward by means of the screw 55 that thennercury will be collected at the perimeter of the tank, after which theconcentrates can be drained off through the opening 11.

Vhen power is applied to the driving-pnlley 51, it will actuate the saidshaft 38 through the medium of the shaft 44, the sprocket- Wheel 45, thechain 4l, and the wheel 40, thereby actuating the gear-wheel 33 by meansof the meshing gear 39, which in turn actuates the conveyer 5l throughthe medium of the meshing gear-wheel 52.

In my improved amalgamating apparatus thus described the followingadvantages are evident: All the anialgamating-surfaces are under Water,a positive downfeed of the ore is secured by the operation of the rotaryagitator, the drainage of mercury and concentrates can conveniently beeffected while the tank is in full operation, a relatively large areacan be continuously silvered by a very small amount of mercury, and alloperative parts are conveniently accessible at all times.

Having thus described my invention and 4o the manner of operating thesame, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an amalgamator,a rotary open-topped cylindrical tank; a tilting adjustable support forthe said tank; a revoluble spiral agitator 45 mounted in said tank invertical arrangement and adapted to impart a positive downfeed to thecontents thereof; means for draining said tank While in operation; andmeans for actuating said tank.

2. An inclined rotary tank having a concave bottom and a peripheraloverflow-troughg a tilting adjustable support for said tank; an uprightspiral agitator revolubly mounted in said tank and adapted to impart apositive downfeed; lneans for centrally draining said tank while inoperation consisting of an inner and an outer sleeve, the inner sleevehaving a lateral outlet-opening, and being adapted to be fixed to saidtank, the outer sleeve having a vertical adjustment on the inner sleeveand adapted to close said lateral opening; and means for operating theSaid outer sleeve.

Signed by me at Fort Wayne, Allen county, 65 State of Indiana, this 9thday of August, A. D. 1901.

ERNEST J. KISS.

Witnesses:

AUGUSTA VIBEnG, ELMo WEIR.

